Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13,086, David French, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
French, David
813086
CONTENTS
Carded

8267
New York
8393
David French
Washington in the State of N. York who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Wiles of the N.Y. commanded by Col. V. Brantingham in the N. York line for 7 months
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 25 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of April 1831 and sent to S. G. Church Salem
Arrears to the 14th of March 1831 $51.32 Semi-annual allowance ending March 1831 12.83
$64.15
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by G. A. Hule Clerk, Book Co. Vol. 4. Page 19
Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 1838. from 4 March 1838 to 6 March 1836, the day of death. Age 60. Notified 1. 19.

David French Pension
8267.
(h. 100)
Adm'd Y mo. 21 or per
Am

State of New York Washington County } ss
In the matter of David French an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress June 7 th 1832 as supplementary to his pension before granted Oliver Selfridge of the town of Ribron in the county of Washington State of New York being duly sworn, says that he has been acquainted with the said David French near sixty years last past and that during the American Revolution he this deponent knows that the said David was a soldier in the Revolution & was in the expedition against Canada that he this deponent lived in the town of Cambridge in the county of Washington State of New York a neighbor of the said David & further this deponent saith not
Given this 28 th day of August 1832 (in open court) Oliver Selfridge John Willard pro hac vice Wash. County Court
I certify that the character of Oliver Selfridge above named for truth is good - and that I omitted to add this certificate at the time the witness was sworn through inadvertence - Jan. 10-1833 John Willard pro hac vice Wash. County Court

State of New York
Washington County ss On this twenty eighth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable John Willard First Judge and the Hon. John Prop Benjamin F. Skinner and Charles T. Snyder
Judges of the County Courts of the said County of Washington now sitting David French a resident of the town of Salem in said County of Washington State of New York aged seventy nine years and seven months who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 17, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated: He first enlisted as a volunteer under one Capt Wells of Cambridge in the said County of Washington. He does not remember that the company was attached to any Regiment. He volunteered at Cambridge aforesaid where he then resided in the spring of 1775. The object of the expedition as he understood was the taking of Canada. Colonels Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen were with the Continental troops between whom a dispute arose in relation to their rank after having arrived at the Isle aux Vaux in Lake Champlain he was informed that the officers had determined they had not sufficient force to effect the objects of the expedition and the militia & volunteers were discharged & he returned home; he was absent upon this expedition three weeks.
Afterwards in the spring of 1776 he enlisted under one Capt. one Cracken of Salem aforesaid in Col. Van Richten's Regiment of Albany (if he does not mistake the name) for six months: The object of the expedition was the taking of Canada. General Montgomery was the commander while he was out near St Johns & while that place was besieged he was in one engagement one afternoon under Colonel Warner of Vermont. The next day St Johns surrendered to the Americans. Soon after he with the other troops moved on as far as Montreal where he remained until the cold weather commenced when he was discharged & returned to his family in Cambridge four months after his enlistment. He does not know why the company were discharged before their term of service had expired unless it was because the season was so far advanced.
Afterward the inhabitants of Cambridge from fear moved off their families to Williamstown in Massachusetts. The men generally returned to see to their farms and were delayed. It having become his turn to do a tour of duty he hired a substitute (whose name he has now forgotten) furnished him with a gun a canteen a blanket & paid him a bounty (but does not now recollect how much) the substitute was taken prisoner after about two months service & he knows not what afterwards became of him.

That he the said David took his turn of duty with the rest of the inhabitants that he was frequently called out in alarms for short periods & he might properly say he was all the time under arms from the time he was discharged at Montreal until the surrender of Burgoyne & until the country became settled.
He was born in the town of Barnstable one of the New England States on the 23 rd day of January 1753. His father removed with his family to the State of New Hampshire & from thence when he the said David was thirteen years of age to the aforesaid town of Cambridge where he the said David continued to reside until the war commenced.
He has no other record of his age than one he has made in his own family bible which he believes to be correct because when he was a boy he was bound out to the farming business & from his indentures he learned his age.
He was residing in the said town of Cambridge when he first entered the service & has ever since lived in the same County of Middlesex and now lives in the town of Salem in said County.
He was called into the service by draft by voluntary & by being drafted.
He never received a written discharge the several companies to which he belonged were always discharged in order.
He gives the names of the Rev Dr Alexander Brainerd of the town of Salem in the said County of Washington and
+ to whom he is known in his present neighbourhood & who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension rolls of the agency of any State.
David his French
sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
J. S. Leigh C.R.
We Alexander Brainerd A clergyman residing in the town of Salem and James P. Miller also a clergyman residing in the town of Argus in the County of Washington State of Vermont hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David French who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age that he is reputed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court
J. S. Leigh C.R.
Alex r Brainerd Ja. P. Miller

And the said Court do hereby declare their Opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Alexander Prandpit who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in town of Salem in the County of Washington State of New York & that James P. Miller also a clergyman who has also signed the same is a resident of the town of Argyle in the same County & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Jesse S. Leigh Clerk of the County Courts of the County of Washington do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David French for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of my Office this 28 th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. J. S. Leigh Clerk

No 8267
David French
contd
14 Sep '93 23 No -
Page 83.
Leonard Church
Houston
Salem Washington Co.
New York

No 82 by
BRIEF in the case of  Daniel French of Salem County of Washington in the State of New York (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Before a Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy nine years. Jan 3. 79 1/2  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service: Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.      Entered the service in the Spring of 1775. Enlisted after this he hired a substitute, and paid him $100. He served in the same service after this.  5 21  Infantry Private   Gen. Capt. Bell's camp Gen. Montgomery's Col. Van Brecht's Lt. Capt. McLarnon's comp.   
 5. In what battles was he engaged? near St. Johns  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? at Cambridge Washington Co. New York  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? His tradition is supported by the belief or part of two clergymen residing in the same county and by a living witness as to his knowledge of applicant's service in the Revolutionary War. The credibility of the clergymen was verified by the Court.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No return 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Chas. S. Wilson Examining Clerk.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
October 9 th , 1839.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The widow of David French, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Albany, N.Y. Agency, at the rate of Twenty five Dollars and Sixty six Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March, 1836, to the 6 th Nov., 1836, the day of his death.
Respectfully, yours,
William E. Parrish Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

September 16, 1930
Rev.& 1812 Wars Section AWF:MLB
Mr. Mansfield J. French 707 Sumner Avenue Syracuse, New York
Dear Sir:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 13086, that David French was born at Dunstable, in "one of the New England States", January 23, 1735. 1753
While a resident of Cambridge, Washington County, New York, he enlisted in the spring of 1775, and served three weeks as a private in Captain Wells' New York company. He enlisted in 1775, and served five months as a private in Captain McCracken's company, Colonel Van Veghten's New York regiment, and was at the siege of St. Johns.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 28, 1832, while a resident of Salem, Washington County, New York.
He died November 6, 1836, leaving a widow, name not stated. There are no further data as to family.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner

Wars Section.
March 10, 1924.
Isabel F. Irwin, Glenwood, Iowa.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.13086, it appears that David French was born at Dunstable in "one of the New England States" January 23, 1753. Pa While a resident of Cambridge, Washington County, New York, he enlisted in the spring of 1775 and served 3 weeks as a private in Captain Wells' New York Company. He enlisted in 1775 and served 5 months as a private in Captain McCracken's Company, Colonel Van Veghten's New York Regiment, and was at the siege of St. John's.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 28, 1832, while a resident of Salem, Washington County, New York. Pa He died November 6, 1836, leaving a widow, name not stated. There is no further data as to family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Wars Section.
2m
March 10, 1924.
Isabel F. Irwin, Glenwood, Iowa.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.13086, it appears that David French was born at Dunstable in "one of the New England States" January 23, 1753. Pa While a resident of Cambridge, Washington County, New York, he enlisted in the spring of 1775 and served 3 weeks as a private in Captain Wells' New York Company. He enlisted in 1775 and served 5 months as a private in Captain McCracken's Company, Colonel Van Veghten's New York Regiment, and was at the siege of St. John's.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 28, 1832, while a resident of Salem, Washington County, New York. Pa He died November 6, 1836, leaving a widow, name not stated. There ay is no further data as to family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

David French

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of David French which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
of two clergymen
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Yes
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
Sworn in open Court
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
As to age yes = as to particular service no
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
Yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days. I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of David French. a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S 13,086.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr. 1775 3 weeks Pvt. Wells N.Y.   Apr. 1775 5 mos. " McBracken Van Rhyten N.Y.        
Battles engaged in, at Siege of St. Johns Canada
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Cambridge, Washington Co., N.Y.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 28, 1832. His Pension was allowed
Residence at date of application, Salem, Washington Co., N.Y.
Age at date of application, 6 at Dunstable in "one of the New England States" Jan 23, 1753
Remarks: he died Nov 6, 1836, leaving a widow, name not stated.
No further family data
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
and all correct hereof, I have served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. David French Nov 3, 1775

ISABEL FRENCH IRWIN GLENWOOD IOWA
February 6, 1924.
Pension Department,
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen,-
In order to become a member of the D. A. R., I need information in regard to one David French, born Jan. 23 1753,- died Nov. 6, 1836. Enlisted in the 16th N. Y. Militia May 21, 1775. At Siege of St. Johns, Canada. Re-enlisted in same Regt. Served five months. Lived most of his life at Cambridge, N. Y. Pensioned in 1832, at Salem N. Y. Born at Dunstable, N. H. (Originally part of Dunstable, Mass.) Had three sons, John, David and Jonathan.
I would like to have the full name of his wife, with date of birth and date of marriage, if possible, and

ISABEL FRENCH IRWIN GLENWOOD IOWA
any other information bearing on the subject as you can supply me with, in order to become eligible for admission to the D. A. P. If you can supply me with any data in regard to the son, Jonathan, it would be of service to me.
Yours very truly,
Isabel French Irwin.

The Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D. C. Dear Sir;
Yuma, Colorado Feb 4, 1922
Will you kindly send me the pension record of David French of Cambridge, N.Y., who enlisted in the 16th N.Y. Militia, May 21, 1775. He was pensioned at Salem, Washington Co., N.Y., in 1832. He was at the siege of St. Johns Canada, Reenlisted and served five months.
The dates of his birth, marriage and death, with maiden name of wife and children if stated are especially desired for D. A. R. papers.
Very respectfully (Miss) Jennie M. Patten.

No 554 Hudson Ave Albany Ny 8 Dec 1914
Hon. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
My dear Sir:
Will you be so kind as to tell me anything you can of David French , Rev Soldier, private from Washington Co, Ny. who obtained Pension about 1833. and greatly oblige
Yours truly Harry Sage Dermott

Rehran
13.086 INVALID.
File No. 13.086
David French Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index: —Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1914. Dec 11: History to Mr. Henry Sage Dermott. M.13.H
1920 Feb. 18. Hist. to Albert B. French 14 S. Winchester Av. Chicago Ills. see his letter re Jonathan French, M.19.888-16. and
1922 Mar. 7 hist. to Miss Jennie M. Patten EW
1924, Mch. 10- Hist. to Isabel F. Irwin. u.m.
1930-Sept. 16- Hist. to Mr. Mansfield J. French see letter in Samuel French S.16814 acc 5.